Bearded Gospel Men?

by Dave Miller on January 24, 2013 · 99 comments

Karl Marx

 

 

Sigmund Freud

 

 

Saddam Hussein

 

 

Rasputin

 

 

Ivan IV

 

Charles Finney

 

 

Just saying…

1 Mike Leake January 24, 2013 at 8:16 am

The powerful beard is a weapon that can be used for great good or evil….

2 Bruce H. January 24, 2013 at 8:55 am

I grew a beard once and it felt like something was clutching my face all the time. Personally, I like my face clean. It seems odd when I see a preacher with a beard, goatee or mustache because I have always sat under clean shaven preachers. I don’t have anything against them.

3 rick January 24, 2013 at 9:42 am

The best part about this is the “Related posts” section. Santa and Angry & Divisive Calvinists.

Well done, Dave, well done.

4 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 11:09 am

Anything to annoy Matt Svoboda.

5 steve tanner January 24, 2013 at 9:42 am

Why bring this up?

6 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 11:05 am

Teasing some unshaven friends, Steve. That is it.

7 theoldadam January 24, 2013 at 9:51 am

A hairaising post…to be sure.

8 Doug Hibbard January 24, 2013 at 10:11 am

Dave, are you bearding up for Israel?

9 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 12:57 pm

I am not.

10 Doug Hibbard January 24, 2013 at 2:04 pm

We’ll get TSA to confiscate your razor :) >

11 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 2:35 pm

Not my panasonic linear drive electric!

12 Jeff Musgrave January 24, 2013 at 5:05 pm

Why grow a beard for Israel? It is way warmer there than it is up here in the great white north.

13 Doug Hibbard January 27, 2013 at 4:23 pm

Depends on who you want to fit in with.

I’m picturing Dave with the stereotypical black hat, curly hair, and beard. You know, Rabbi Tuckman.

14 Mark Applegate January 24, 2013 at 10:22 am

Do you think yourself wise? Then there’s a donkey inside your waistcoat. Do you think yourself handsome? Then there’s a bernerk in your beard.- Spurgeon (Perils of the beard?)

BUT…

“Growing a beard ‘is a habit most natural, scriptural, manly, and beneficial.’”

BTW… I will grant you that several Puritans had the Ivan IV scowl… :)

15 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 11:07 am

A+

16 Clark Dunlap January 24, 2013 at 10:30 am

John Calvin, BH Carroll, John Clarke, Just sayin

17 Dale Pugh January 24, 2013 at 11:17 am

Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, the Robertson’s from Duck Dynasty, Clint Eastwood (High Plains Drifter), Chuck Norris, Obi Wan Kenobi……..

18 Mark January 24, 2013 at 11:26 am

But did Jesus have a beard? How about Paul and the rest of the Apostles?

I bet they went around promoting and bragging about beards, too. Just sayin….

19 Chris Roberts January 24, 2013 at 11:39 am

Even demons try to disguise themselves as angels of light. It’s a testimony to the power of the beard that these wicked men thought a beard would hide their folly.

20 Greg Buchanan January 24, 2013 at 11:41 am

Hey now, Ivan IV (Ivan Grozny) didn’t start out like that…

After a near-death experience, the death of his wife, and years of dealing with the noble rulers (the equivalent of deacons), we might look the same :)

21 Ben Coleman January 24, 2013 at 11:46 am

As a technical person, I tend to associate beards with Unix programmers.

22 Chris Roberts January 24, 2013 at 12:26 pm

Bearded: Chuck Norris.
Beardless: Nancy Pelosi.

Bearded: Charles Spurgeon.
Beardless: Barrack Obama.

Bearded: John Piper (His beard is invisible – most people could not handle that much awesomeness.)
Beardless: Peter Lumpkins.

Bearded: Chris Roberts.
Beardless: Dave Miller.

Any questions?

23 Chris Roberts January 24, 2013 at 12:27 pm

More on John Piper’s beard.

I have it on good authority that he has a big, bushy, black beard that stretches halfway down his chest. For one or two nights every Christmas, he unhides it, dyes it grey, and runs around his neighborhood playing pranks on people to help prove that Santa is evil.

24 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 1:00 pm

I so wish Joel Osteen would grow a beard. And Ed Young, Jr.

25 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 4:45 pm

For Chris Roberts’ sake, I added a pic of Charles Finney, his ministry hero.

26 Chris Roberts January 24, 2013 at 4:52 pm

I find a war rages within me, for I despised the badly formatted html that governed the pictures before and am grateful that you have fixed it, but I have a heart of malice toward you for calling that vile human toad Finney (with apologies to R. G. Lee) a ministry hero. I do not know what I shall do. Who shall rescue me from this wrestling of emotions?

27 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 4:57 pm

Go get a Frosty at Wendy’s and cool off.

28 Dale Pugh January 24, 2013 at 9:04 pm

They can’t. Wimps.

29 Dale Pugh January 24, 2013 at 9:04 pm

That was directed at the Osteen and Young comment.

30 Brent Hobbs January 24, 2013 at 12:32 pm

This post made me laugh. Some of the comments too.

31 dean January 24, 2013 at 12:44 pm

Okay, if we are not being spiritual today I got to ask a question for the cynics – how was Rasputin a lady’s man? That is the best picture of him I have ever seen and I will still wet my bed tonight because of it.

32 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 12:58 pm

Okay, that is a brilliant comment.

33 Mark January 24, 2013 at 1:07 pm

Oh, I think Charles Finney was also bearded.

34 Ben Coleman January 24, 2013 at 1:18 pm

Not to be confused, of course, with Charles (Chuck) Finley.

35 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 1:28 pm

Or Sam Axe.

36 Mark January 24, 2013 at 3:04 pm

Word!

37 Ben Coleman January 24, 2013 at 4:06 pm

Don’t want to have a beard covering that chin.

38 Dan January 24, 2013 at 8:38 pm

If we use a beard, however, to cover a double chin…now that’s a different story!

39 Ben Coleman January 24, 2013 at 11:01 pm

Maybe. Can double chins kill?

40 Jess Alford January 24, 2013 at 3:20 pm

I used to have a handle bar mustach. You should see me after I had eaten corn on the cob. “Well maybe you should not have seen me,” I was a mess.

41 Matthew Newman January 24, 2013 at 4:23 pm

Some people cannot handle the power of a beard. Some corrupt its noble purposes for evil, as mentioned above. Others, hearken from a nobler day knowing that the beard is one of the Lord’s many gifts to man. It is insulation for the face and scares away enemies.

Side note: I have been clean shaven one time since my daughter (19 mos old) has been alive. She freaked out & wouldn’t let me pick her up all day. I did this the day before Easter…so, great idea on my part.

42 Chris Roberts January 24, 2013 at 4:53 pm

I tried that on my kids, shaving to see how they would react, but no effect. I was disappointed.

43 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 4:58 pm

Probably says your beard isn’t worth keeping.

44 Jon January 24, 2013 at 5:13 pm

It seems the beard has been a mark of the ideologue many times before. I know it was the fashion among many mininsters of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, too.

45 Dave Miller January 24, 2013 at 6:45 pm

Two items on the agenda:

1) I am AMAZED at the traffic this post has gotten. I put it up mostly to annoy a few of my facebook friends with their constant pics and comments about the power and manliness of facial hair.

This thing has drawn a LOT of traffic here today, by far our most active post.

That leads me to this observation about the SBC Voices family: you guys are weird.

2) Has anyone noted that picture of Charles Finney? That guy looked scary.

46 Jon January 24, 2013 at 7:04 pm

Yes, his phisiognomic traits imply severety for sure.

47 Dan January 24, 2013 at 8:42 pm

Physiognomic…with a “y” – yes?

48 Jon January 24, 2013 at 11:42 pm

Thanks, Dan. i realized it afterwards but was too lazy to re-post. Yes, it captures Finney seeing with his mind’s eye so that he looks stern.

49 cb scott January 25, 2013 at 7:06 am

Dave,

I have met Christ Roberts and Jared Moore.

If both men grew breads and posed in profile, both could easily portray a contemporary artistic rendering of Charles Finney in the early years.

50 cb scott January 25, 2013 at 7:07 am

That should have been Chris Roberts, not “Christ” Roberts.

Chris is a nice guy and all, but not worthy of worship.

51 Chris Roberts January 25, 2013 at 7:44 pm

But I already have a beard, and I think you made a typo up there. Unless I’m mistaken, I think you meant to say:

“If Chris would only use his beard to beat up Charles Finney in the early years, much damage could have been avoided.”

52 Jeff Musgrave January 24, 2013 at 7:17 pm

That leads me to this observation about the SBC Voices family: you guys are weird.

I know you are not just figuring that out. The occasional bent toward weirdness is part of what drew me to this site in the first place, and certainly part of what keeps me coming back for more.

53 Ben Coleman January 24, 2013 at 10:48 pm

I was just glad to note that in addition to a few closet techies, we have people on here who will recognize a Burn Notice reference.

54 Max January 24, 2013 at 11:03 pm

“… picture of Charles Finney? That guy looked scary.”

Finney fixed his eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. Preachers get that look when they become otherworldly. Lord knows we need more in the bunch these days with that look on their face.

55 Dave Miller January 25, 2013 at 2:11 am

Let’s just say that opinions about Finney and his effect on the church vary widely.

56 Max January 25, 2013 at 10:43 am

Understood. Including Finney with this particular cast of characters speaks clearly of opinion. There are lots of opinions of men flying through the SBC airwaves these days. I wonder what God’s opinion is of our opinions? The sad truth is that Christians are divided on many issues. One issue, however, that most can agree on is the desire for revival – which I believe genuinely motivated Finney … but that’s my opinion, I guess.

57 cb scott January 25, 2013 at 11:13 am

Max,

It is not necessarily a “sad truth” that “Christians are divided on many issues” these days.

Thankfully, there is division. Can you imagine what would be the case if all Christians thought the same in such perilous times as we now live?

Hell would have already engulfed the greater majority of local churches and the devil would have easily taken not only the hindmost parts, but the whole of all things rather than what he is getting by with in the present.

However, let me most quickly agree with you. We need revival and all should be praying for it to occur. . . . and if a “Finney-ish” movement does happen, it would be a far cry better environment than we are presently experiencing now . . .but, that is my opinion

58 Max January 25, 2013 at 11:58 am

Agreed, Brother Scott.

59 Max January 25, 2013 at 12:08 pm

CB – do you reckon that Jesus’ prayer as recorded in John 17 will be answered this side of glory … “that all of them may be one”?

60 cb scott January 25, 2013 at 3:15 pm

Max,

I have wondered that myself. My answer is now as then. I do not know.

61 Greg Harvey January 25, 2013 at 6:36 pm

But I know the one WHO knows…

62 Dave Miller January 25, 2013 at 8:52 pm

Max, there was one purpose and one purpose only for this post. No theological point was intended. I was trying to annoy all the young whippersnappers who make such a big deal about their beards.

Most of them do not like Charles Finney much, so I added Finney later. Again, that was simply to annoy Matt Svoboda, Chris Roberts, Joshua Breland, etc.

I had no intent to compare Finney to Saddam or Rasputin or any of the others. I’m not a big fan of Finney’s methods, but this post had only one purpose – to be a thorn in the side to unshaven young whippersnappers.

63 Ben Coleman January 25, 2013 at 9:16 pm

Did you intend to annoy the old bearded whippersnappers, too? (Come to think of it, though Leviticus does tell us to “Rise up before the hoary head”, I can’t think of a command to honor the bearded. As a matter of face, the follow up to the Leviticus passage says to “honor the face of the old man”, which may be a bit more difficult if said face is covered up by a beard)

64 Dale Pugh January 25, 2013 at 10:22 pm

I can honestly say that this old bearded whippersnapper was thoroughly amused by this post. It got way more attention than I thought it would, but most of it was quite funny.

65 Chris Roberts January 25, 2013 at 11:27 pm

Dave,

I’m sorry, but you’ve forced my hand. I must let you know how I feel about this post. The Queen has already said it far better than I so I shall let her do the talking: http://tcnr.me/lo8fj

66 Dave Miller January 26, 2013 at 2:59 am

I thought this thing might draw a half dozen comments. I am amazed at the reaction it has brought.

67 Ben Coleman January 28, 2013 at 11:00 pm

“That leads me to this observation about the SBC Voices family: you guys are weird.”

Is it a surprise that you’ve attracted a bunch of weirdos?

68 Jon January 28, 2013 at 11:42 pm

We like to rally around a chief and display our tartans proudly, and our battle-cries are loud. I think the SBC is possessed of a Celtic remnant.

69 Dave Miller January 29, 2013 at 12:45 am

There will be no displaying of tartans around here.

70 Christiane January 29, 2013 at 1:30 am

Please, DAVID
you’ve got to see my Family’s ancient tartan from the MacGillivrays whose clan motto is
“touch not the cat without wearing gloves” (great motto, srsly)

I give you: the Macgillivray Clan Tartan in all its glory:
http://www.scotclans.com/img/scottish_clans/macgillivray/tartan.gif

71 Ben Coleman January 29, 2013 at 2:35 am

I thought that was the motto of those practicing the martial art of cat-washing.

72 Christiane January 29, 2013 at 10:00 am

Hi BEN,
I know there’s a story behind that motto somewhere. :) Feel free to use your imagination!

73 Ben Coleman January 29, 2013 at 11:30 am

Being a techie, I used Google instead of my imagination. Best I can come up with is:

“The armorial badge which all members of the Clan are entitled to wear embodies the crest of the Chief’s Coat of Arms with a wildcat encircled by a strap and buckle bearing the motto:

“Touch not the cat but a glove”

(in Gaelic, “Na bean don chat gun lamhainn”.)

The motto’s meaning is: Touch not the cat (when it is) without a glove.

The glove of the wildcat is the soft, under part of his paw, and when assuming a war-like attitude, the paw is spread or ungloved revealing very dangerous claws. The motto is a warning to those who would be so imprudent as to engage in battle when the claw of the wildcat is ungloved.”

And elsewhere, the alternative interpretation is summarily dealt with:

“Others believe that the motto means that one should not handle a wildcat without wearing a glove. But naturalists have testified that handling a Scottish wildcat — with or without a glove — is not recommended.”

Apparently, the clan is identified with the wildcat, and you’re warned not to tangle with it when it’s claws are unsheathed.

74 Dale Pugh January 29, 2013 at 12:05 pm

Beautiful tartan. But Ben has WAY too much time on his hands if he would go to all that trouble to figure out the motto. (Nice job, though, Ben!)

75 Ben Coleman January 29, 2013 at 12:16 pm

It didn’t take *that* much time to look up. Some of us just have advanced Google-fu.

76 Christiane January 29, 2013 at 1:58 pm

Thank you, BEN . . .
I appreciate the time you took to dig that up on Google. I myself had visions of something far more sinister, from what I know about that branch of the Family. :)

77 Randall Cofield January 24, 2013 at 9:16 pm

My beard grows down to my toes,
I never wears no clothes,
I wraps my hair
Around my bare,
And down the road I goes.

—Shel Silverstein

78 Randall Cofield January 24, 2013 at 10:11 pm

This may become a necessity for us bearded ones in the current economic environment…

79 Max January 24, 2013 at 10:47 pm

Proof that hair on the face provides no genetic link or kindred spirit between a revolutionary socialist, sex-crazed neurologist, butcher dictator, mad monk, or mentally ill tsar with one of the greatest evangelists who ever lived.

80 Chris Roberts January 25, 2013 at 12:06 am

? Charles Spurgeon isn’t on the list…

81 Max January 25, 2013 at 10:57 am

Indeed! Spurgeon was also a great evangelist! Perhaps Dave couldn’t find a pic of him without his cigar. ;^)

82 Chris Roberts January 25, 2013 at 5:06 pm

He could have done like Southwestern Seminary and edited the cigar out.

83 Jon January 25, 2013 at 6:16 pm

A commander of the Salvation Army gave him a hard time over those cigars.

84 Max January 27, 2013 at 9:49 pm

The cigar cover up will forever remain a mystery at SWBTS – the files have been sealed much longer than 15 years! An appropriate B.H. Carroll quote for this blog piece: “There are only two types of men in the world – those who have a beard and women.”

85 Dave Miller January 27, 2013 at 10:38 pm

That’s funny, Max.

86 cb scott January 25, 2013 at 11:26 am

I had not noticed this before, but Sigmund Freud looks a lot like Marty Duren. Dave Miller has an uncanny resemblance to Saddam Hussein, while Dwight McKissik is the spitting image of Karl Marx.

87 Dale Pugh January 25, 2013 at 10:24 pm

Wait a minute…..you once told me that I look like Marty Duren. Which now makes me look like Sigmund Freud. I don’t want to look like Marty Duren anymore.

88 cb scott January 26, 2013 at 10:07 am

Sorry, Duckman Dale.

It is what it is. Or, in this case, “Y’all looks like y’all looks.”

89 Dave Miller January 26, 2013 at 11:54 am

You have lost your mind, CB. I mean, we’ve all known it was slipping away, but now the process seems complete!

90 Jon January 27, 2013 at 10:07 pm

We’ll have to look into that. I think the cigar cover-up was an attempt on the part of Fundamentalists to ignore the fact that Spurgeon smoked. It would be the best conspiratorial plot to date.

91 Dave Miller January 27, 2013 at 12:38 pm

I’m going to officially award this post our “Surprise Post of the Year” bloggie award.

I took about ten minutes (provoked by some “Bearded Gospel Men” Facebook post) and threw that together. I expected it to get a few views and some sarcastic comments.

I had no idea, I guess, the power of beards in modern SBC life.

92 cb scott January 27, 2013 at 3:59 pm

Dave Miller,

I have been looking at the bearded guys in your post again. I noticed something I missed yesterday. If you look at the eyes, forehead, and nose of Rasputin, you will see a striking resemblance to Rick Patrick.

I tell you what, my brother. This post is so spooky, maybe you should have held it back for Halloween. I will never be able to look at you, Marty, Dwight, Jared, Chris, and now, Rick without having second thoughts about reincarnation.

Oh yeah, around the ears and hairline Ole Ivan the IV looks a lot like Tim Rogers.

This is a really creepy post. Maybe you should stay away from posts like this in the future. Its just too strange.

93 Dave Miller January 27, 2013 at 7:40 pm

Are you off your medication again?

94 Jess Alford January 29, 2013 at 12:56 am

Is it just me but Chris Roberts beard looks like Prince Alberts beard. You know, the guy on the tobacco can.

95 Pastor Bill January 29, 2013 at 6:14 pm

Unfortunately, I am late seeing this post… this has got to be one of the funniest comments streams I have seen in a long time. It had all the makings of a classic from the get-go: witty banter, friendly jabs, and Spurgeon-quotes.

If there is ever a comment stream hall of fame, this must be in it! Excellent.

96 Dave Miller January 29, 2013 at 6:49 pm

yeah, it was some of our better work.

97 Jess Alford January 29, 2013 at 8:57 pm

David Rogers, I hope you don’t mind being picked on a little bit.

98 David Rogers January 30, 2013 at 1:14 am

Why? Are you getting ready to do it?

99 Jess Alford January 30, 2013 at 2:13 pm

David Rogers,

Actually I did, I just got the names wrong, I used the name Chris Roberts, but I meant you who had a beard like Prince Albert, the
guy on the tobacco can.

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